Tokyo Saturday Sampo

Saturday September 8, 2012

Tokyo Japan

Hot and Humid

So not much excitement for the first week living in Japan except for waking up congested and one day had an ugly rash do to some allergic reaction.  Can't wait for the weather to cool down in Tokyo as it is brutal especially in the hot office.

Anyhow, it's hard to believe I just arrived on Friday but the body is feeling it.  Slept in on Saturday and slept for a good 10hrs which is unusual for me.  After spending the morning working on insurance papers, moving to-dos, banking stuff, decided to take a walk to ometesando to visit 2 stores which I've been told carry cleaning products that do not do animal testing.  And success!  Both Kinokuniya International Grocery Store and Natural House carry products that do not do animal testing.  So,  looks like I'll be able have an apartment in Japan that only uses "cruelty free" products.  So relieved!

While walking to the stores, I found a very cool shopping area called "Common 246".  It's a commune right off Aoyama-dori with really cool eating spots and some shops.  The shops and "restaurants" are in homemade shacks or served from cute Japanese sized trailers.  I want one of those trailers!  Anyhoo, here are some shots for the area. 

 This is a noodle shop.  Looked so good.  The chef is from the famous Chabuya Ramen.  The lemongrass noodle soup looked Delish!  I will stop by next time.

Coolest toilet

Common Eating Place.  Ground is covered with pine chips so smells so good!

Don't miss the hidden alleyway in the back

A cool but tiny bookshop

And a very cool eyeglass store

Decoration

Local coffee shop

Yakitori trailer

Another view of the noodle shop

Bread store in a trailer

Japanese style burgers and pork buns.. not for me!

Champagne trailer!

And of course Takoyaki trailer.  No, its not about eating the "balls" of Octopus.  Its a mini savory donut with a chunk of octopus in it.

I did want down Ometesando-dori a bit and found a very robot dog in front of the Ted Baker store.  It looked real!

And discovered Ben and Jerry's opened in Tokyo!  So excited and was going to get an ice cream cone until I saw the line.

The line.  An hour plus wait!

And then got freaked out by this lady in the Luis Vuitton store

But she was just a mannequin.  Only in Tokyo!

Comments

[Cynthia Cochran-Carney]

I always enjoy reading your posts and seeing your pictures. Your observations are great. Although I have moved more than I ever expected, it has only been within the US. I admire your ability to move back and forth to Japan. Hope this next chapter goes well. Take care, Cindy Cochran-Carney

[Justin Keeling]

Great find. Will definitely check it out this week.

Assuming this is it on Google maps: http://goo.gl/13tE0